OPINION
maintenance, 6 June, London For further details of both these
courses and to book visit
www.cibsetraining.co.uk
Educate the (bio)masses It is good to see some debate on renewable heat and biomass in the CIBSE Journal, but it is a shame the summary of CIBSE’s response to the Department of Energy and Climate Change’s (DECC) consultation was inaccurate: ‘It warns DECC that describing biomass boilers as being part of a “boiler replacement scheme” would be misleading as fossil fuel boilers operate at higher temperatures than renewable heat sources, and so are smaller, lighter in weight and easier to match to existing heating systems.’ The point is that biomass boilers do operate at the same temperatures as fossil fuel boilers and can therefore supply the same distribution systems. There is real irony here,
as CIBSE’s actual response highlights the need to give accurate information to consumers. This lack of good information is also evident in some of the letters. I cannot hope to provide extensive responses to some of the queries raised, but hope to summarise some points. The concept of sustainable development emerged in the
1970s, but despite the laudable aim and reams of paper, policy and legislation, there is very little evidence of homo sapiens actually turning the corner. There is evidence that using biomass fuel can be sustainable but, undoubtedly, it cannot replace 100% of the current – and growing – energy demands of mankind. In the UK we have a stock of what, in energy terms, can best be described as poor quality buildings that will still require heat for the next 50+ years. Only some of these would be suitable for biomass heating.
MANUFACTURER’S VIEWPOINT
Will you be joining the expected 60,000 visitors, 1,500 exhibitors, a clutch of the greenest celebrities and government ministers at Ecobuild this year? Martin Fahey of Mitsubishi Electric will be
As you sit reading this, I imagine you working out how much time you can spare for Ecobuild in March.
The show has grown from its humble beginnings and now takes over both halves of the giant exhibition space in the ExCel Centre, which last summer played host to the drama and success of the Olympics.
As well as almost 60,000 visitors and 1,500 exhibitors, Ecobuild attracts both green celebrities and government ministers.
So, for the UK, what level
of biomass consumption is sustainable? Research by the UK government suggests at least 10 times more than we consume at present. And then we come to the electricity/heat ‘choice’. If we are going to mobilise biomass for fuel, should we use the vast majority at a conversion effi ciency of, say, 30% in thermal power plants, or far less at, say, 75% effi ciency in modern heat-only boilers? Let’s ignore combined heat and power
• If you had the chance to address a room of architects,
A selection of the most popular forum threads at
www.cibse.org/linkedin
• So what does a building services engineer do,
exactly?
www.cibsejournal.com
• BIM models – do you keep them in a library or do you
what would you say?
• Who, like me, thinks that biomass technology is
use Autodesk?
akin to the Emperors New Clothes children’s parable?
Politicians could do worse than listen to the industry and what we collectively have to say about
Ecobuild offers the opportunity to see the latest technological advances in low carbon equipment
how we can help the country meet the stringent emissions targets that loom ever closer.
The ‘ecobuild’ sector has grown slowly but steadily throughout the last 10 years and, regardless of incentives or legislation, it stands ready to deliver growth and help move us towards those targets. Added to this, we have continued uncertainty over the future of our fossil fuels – despite the apparent promise of fracking. Even if shale gas does offer a short-term solution to the end of the North Sea supply, the country is still likely to remain a net importer, and an overreliance on gas will simply not get us anywhere near the emissions targets we are legally bound to meet.
It is worth highlighting that our demand for heat is the single biggest reason we use energy in our society, more than for transport or the generation of electricity. Switching just 12% of this heating requirement away from fossil fuels to renewable technologies will help the country achieve around a third of the
renewable targets that simply must be met, while drastically reducing our reliance on fossil fuels. As a manufacturer, we have seen many of our customers embrace the move to renewables. All of our corporate clients have well developed programmes to install renewable technology to help them reduce their energy bills and meet corporate social responsibility commitments. And we are working hard to support and help them, because it is our mission as a manufacturer of energy- consuming equipment to demonstrate sustainability in
the way we do business.
As the UK’s largest ‘green’ show, Ecobuild offers the opportunity to see the latest technological advances in low carbon equipment and futuristic research and development that points to a brighter future.
I don’t know about you, but I’m looking forward to 5, 6 and 7 March. Drop in and see me on Stand N3110 if you’d like to discuss any of the issues raised here or in any of my columns. I look forward to seeing you there!
Martin Fahey is sustainable solutions manager at Mitsubishi Electric. Join the debate by visiting the Green Gateway LinkedIn group, or following Martin’s Twitter account (@green_ gateway), which offers followers a chance to receive up-to-the-minute news and views from those within and outside the industry, including key opinion leaders.
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February 2013 CIBSE Journal
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